He Chose Her Best Friend Over Her Dying Breath

1: 1

Corinne Swanson's blood sugar crashed while the two of us were out shopping.

Jayden Barnes pulled a lollipop from his pocket, peeled off the wrapper, and slipped it into her mouth.

The whole thing moved so smoothly it looked rehearsed, like he'd done it a hundred times before.

"You know you have low blood sugar. Why don't you carry candy on you?"

Jayden's voice was scolding.

He sounded like he was lecturing a stubborn child, but his hands were unbelievably gentle.

Corinne, still pale, forced out a small smile.

"I've got you, don't I?"

Jayden frowned, unconvinced.

"And what if I'm not around next time? Do you know how dangerous that is?"

"Did you forget last time? You didn't have candy, your blood sugar crashed, and you passed out in the emergency room."

Slowly the color came back into Corinne's face.

But Jayden still wasn't reassured. He scooped her up into his arms.

"No. I'm taking you to the hospital anyway."

A moment later the car sped off.

I stood there in the wind, wanting to chase after them, but my feet felt rooted to the ground.

I was suddenly so tired. I didn't want to chase anymore.

1

Ten minutes after the car pulled away.

My phone was still dead quiet.

No call. No text.

Neither of them, all the way there, had remembered me, left standing where they'd abandoned me.

It struck me as almost funny.

This wasn't the first time Jayden and Corinne had left me behind.

Last month, we'd made plans to see a movie together.

All it took was Corinne offhandedly saying the movie looked boring.

The two of them turned around on the spot and went to an arcade instead.

Leaving me alone in the theater for two full hours.

The month before that, we'd made plans to go out for a big shared dinner.

All it took was Corinne offhandedly saying the food was too spicy, that it always gave her breakouts.

The two of them turned and walked into the Western place next door.

Leaving me alone for three full hours, staring at a pot of red, simmering broth.

The month before that, we'd planned to go to the beach to watch the sunrise.

All it took was Corinne offhandedly saying the sea wind was too strong.

Halfway there, the two of them turned back.

Leaving me alone in a thin dress, standing in the freezing sea wind all night long.

That time I came down with a bad cold and it took a full month to shake it.

Every single time, Corinne was the princess, carefully looked after.

And I was always the forgotten one, the person nobody could see.

I tucked away the disappointment inside me, careful as always.

I told myself.

Corinne is my best friend. I shouldn't be jealous of her.

But it still ached, no matter how I tried.

The cold wind cut through me, and my airways seized.

That familiar suffocating pressure surged up in my chest.

I have severe asthma. I always carry my medication.

But when I fumbled toward my bag with shaking hands, it hit me a beat too late that I'd switched bags this morning to match today's dress.

I'd rushed out the door, and left my inhaler sitting on top of the shoe cabinet by the entryway.

Hands trembling, I pulled out my phone, found Jayden's number, and called.

I called seven times before he finally picked up.

"Jayden…"

I forced the word out.

"I… my asthma… it's flaring up, my medicine… it's gone… can you…"

But before I could finish, Jayden cut in, his voice mild.

"Nettie, Corinne's still in observation. I can't get away."

"Be good, just tough it out. As soon as things are done here I'll come find you."

"But…"

I wanted to tell him I couldn't tough it out, that I couldn't wait.

Just then, Corinne's faint voice came through the phone.

"Is that Nettie? What's wrong with her?"

"Mm, she's fine. Lie back down and be good, don't move around."

Jayden's voice was flat.

The next second, he hung up on me.

A bitter laugh slipped out of me.

Just tough it out.

Four light little words that landed on my chest like a boulder.

Sweat soaked through the back of my shirt.

My vision kept blacking out.

All I could hear was my own ragged gasping.

I sat there with my mouth open, like a fish dying on dry land.

But I didn't call Jayden again.

Just before my consciousness slid all the way into the dark, I finally got through to emergency services.

"Hello, is this 911…"